Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Nicholas Cornford, co-owner of Purvé Donut Stop, located in Honolulu, HI, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

We are a locally owned and operated custom donut shop, where our customer's unique experience begins as soon as they walk through our doors. Customers of all ages, 0-100, are treated like Ohana as they watch their custom fresh & hot donuts made from start to finish right in front of them. Customers are entertained by the upbeat music, taking photos with the local artwork that is blasted all over the walls, and the amazing staff that provides the best customer service in the donut industry.

Tell us about yourself

I am originally from Oregon and moved out here in 2008; Brion was born and raised in Oahu. We worked together for years in the late-night bar industry, but there came a time that we were ready to get out of that scene. After looking into different donut concepts, we felt that we could change the donut industry by combining the higher-end boutique donut shop with a fresh, made-to-order concept. Since opening our doors in 2018, we have found that our dedication to community involvement and work with non-profits is what really motivates us to keep growing and doing what we are doing.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I would have to say building staff that all feel like family and being able to not only survive the pandemic but being able to open our second shop. This second shop allowed us to hire more people in a time when most businesses were having to lay people off.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

There are a lot of speed bumps that come with starting a business from the ground up, but those hard times are what make us better leaders and a better company overall. One of the hardest things for us is making sure that we are continuing to grow at a quick pace so that we can continue to offer our staff more opportunities and lifelong careers with Purvé.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Have a clear vision of what you are trying to do and where you want to go so that you can set goals to get you there.
  2. Remember that this is your vision!! There will be lots of people along the way that will tell you to do things differently. It is important to always listen to those ideas with an open mind but at the end of the day, remember that this is your vision and your life!
  3. Find a mentor and never stop educating yourself! It can be intimidating to try to find a mentor but always just remember that most successful people were once in your shoes. You will find that most are willing to pay it forward and help in ways that they can.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

We are super excited for the next couple of years. We will be opening more locations here on Oahu, and we will start to expand to the West Coast. We are stoked to spread the Purvé Aloha and to continue our work with so many great non-profits.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.purvehawaii.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PURVEDonutStop/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/purvedonutstop/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.